Supporting device for overhead tracks



Feb. 10, 1931. P. L. HOFFMAN SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD TRACKS FiledFeb. 21. 1927 I ||||1 III atented Feb. 3%, 1931 irnszv PETER L. HOFFMAN,OF AURGRA, ILLENOIS, AFJSIGNOR TO RiCHABDS-WILGOX MANU- FAGTURINGCOMPANY, 015 AURORA, IL

LINOES, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SUPPORTING-DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD TRACKSApplication filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,791.

My invention relates to devices for supporting door hanger and similaroverhead tracks, and particularly tracks of inverted U-shape, such asare commonly used as runways for trolleys from which sliding doors aresuspended. Track of such design is usually made lI1 "'SCtl0I1S ofconvenientlength, and a plurality of these sections are mounted withtheir adjoining ends abutting, so as to make up a continuous track ofthe required total length. It is therefore important to hold the severalsections against endwise movement that would open up spaces at thejoints, as the opening of such-gaps wouldobviously interfere with thesmooth running of the trolleys or-door hangers,and would cause joltsthat would tend to loosen the track supports as well as to jar thedoor'and the hangers, resulting in their more rapid deterioration. Theobject of my present invention is to provide improved means torsupporting a track made up of a plurality of sections, by which theseveral sections will be firmly supported, and also Wlll be held againstendwise movement relatively to each other; also to provide supportingmeans of this character that will be of simple and inexpensive design.accomplish this object as illustrated in the drawings, and as vhereinafter described. YVhat I regard as new will be set forth in theclaims. V L

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of parts of twoadj oiningtrack sections of inverted U-shape, supported and connected by myimproved supporting means.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the yoke member that constitutes a partof the connecting means, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectionshowing a modification.

Referring to the drawings 6, 7 indicate two track sections of like crosssectional contour,

which in the illustrations is somewhat like an inverted U, although, asbest shown in Figs. 1 and 3., inwardly extending flanges 8 are providedat the lower side margins of the sections, said flanges being spacedapart, as

proximate ends of adjoining sections abutting against each other, so asto make a continuous runway. The track is supported opposite such jointsby a two-part bracket comprising an inner member or plate 11, which forthe most part is fiat, as shown in Fig. 3, but is provided at its lowerend with an outturned flange or lip 12 that extends under the inner flane or channel of the track sections, the inner wall of such sectionsbearing against the fiat surface of said plate, which extends upwardsome distance above the track sections, for conveniently attaching it toa wall or other support, as by a bolt 13.

The track supporting bracket prises an outer member 14, which is approximately Z-shaped, as it has a vertical porticn 15, that fits against theupper portion of the plate 11; a horizontal intermediate portion 16,that extends over the upper surface of the track sections; and avertical portion that bears against the outer vertical face of the tracksections and overlies the oint between them. At the lower end of heportion 1-. is an inturned flange 18, that extends under the outerflange 8 of the track sections, which therefore rest upon ant aresupported by the flanges 12, 18, as shown in 3. The memalso comher H isso proportioned that the horizontal portion thereof lies a. chi distanceabove he upper surface of the track sections. as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,an the upper portion is firmly secured to the 1 e ll by the bolt 13,which p. thro ed holes 111 both, and also by on ten .9 struck up fromthe plate ll into or notches 19 formed in the part 15 at on, c sides ofthe bolt 13. Thus the two members of the bracket are firmly connectedtogether bracket is secured in place by the bolt The track sections liespreferabiy midway be. en the end margins of the bracket, and said sctions are l secured together and to the br cket bymeans of a U-shapedyoke 20, compi a substantially flat intermediate portion anddownturnedend portions 22' provided with tongues 23 and shoulders 24 at oppi "itesides of said tongues, as best shown 1n F1 4. The yoke is of such lengththat it is adapted to embrace the bracket members 14' at its horizontalportion'16, with the shoulders 21- bearing on the upper surface of thetrack sections, and the tongues 25? projecting into "lots 6 formed insaid track sections as best nvn Fi 2 and A bolt zesecures e yoke to thehorizontal'portion 16 tl. e head of said bolt bearing against the undersurface of said portion 16, While a nut 28 screwcdon the up Wardlyextending shank of the bolt, which passes throughsuitable holes in thebracket member and yoke.

Manifestly the bolt 26 holds the yoke lirmly in place on the bracketmember a, yoke holds the track sections against endwise movement tendingto open up the jo'nt. By removing the nut 28 the yoke-may be detached topermit the track sections to be do mounted.

In Fig. 5 I havoshoWn a modified arrange ment in which in tead ofemploying ton ues formed on the yoke, I provide upturned lips 29 struckup from the upper portions of the track sections 6, T, at such pointsthat they abut'against' the inner faces of the downturned portions 22 ofthe yoke, and so prevent endwise movement of the track sections.

This form is substantially a reversal of that shownin the other figures.In both forms the yoke holds the track sections down firmly on theflanges 12, 18, and in both it forms an interlocking connection betweenthe bracket and the track sections that holds the latter against endwisemovement with respect to the bracket, or to each other, and yet permitsthem to be easil assembled or lisconnectedu So far as this feature of myinvention is concerned, it may be used in connection with a single piecebracket, although the tv'o piece bracket is a more advantageous con.'uction. What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent. is is and the 1(The combination of an overhead track, and meansfor supporting it in place, said means comprising a bracket extendingover and partially beneath the track, a, yoke extending over and securedto the bracket above the track and having down-turned ends provided withton ues projecting into slots in the track, and a bolt securing the yoketo the bracket.

2. The combination of an overhead track, and means for supporting it inplace, said means comprising abracket extending over and partiallybeneath the track, a yoke extending over and secured to the bracketabove the track and having downturned ends provided Withtonguesprojecting into slots in the track, and a shoulder bearing on the track,and a bolt securing the yoke to the bracket In combination, anroverheadtrack, a separable two part bracket extending over andjmrtially securingthe bracket to a supporting structure and for releasably securing thetivo parts of the'bracket together-and holding them against relativemovement, a yoke straddling the upper horizontal arm of the bracket andbearingfon the-top wall of the track, and

means'for detachably securing the yoke to'the bracket and for forcingsaid yoketoward the track, theyoke and'the track having coendwise"movement with respect to the bracket. W

4. The combination of an'overhead track comprising a number of sections,and means for supporting the track in place; said means comprising abracket'extending over and partially underneath-the track, a member onthe bracket extending longitudinally of the track and adaptedtobridge apair of abutting operatingmeans holdin the track-against track sectionends in the bracket and having means adapted to be forcibly urged intoengagement-With the track, and means-to fasten said member-to thebracket.

5. The combination of an overhead track,-

and means for supporting it in place, said means comprising a bracketextending over and partially beneath the track, a yoke embracing aportion of the bracket above the track and having'projections' near theends thereof, said track having means cooperating with said projectionsto prevent endwise movement of the track in the bracket, and meanssecuring the yoke to the bracket.

6. The combination of an overhead track,

and means'for supporting it in place, said beneath the track, means forto end, a bracket extending about and partially beneath the adjacent endportions of tWo successive track sections, a securing and pressureapplying member bridging said adjacent end portions of the tracksections, said member and the track sections having cooperating meansfor securing the track sections together and for exerting pressure uponthe track sections, and means for securing said member to the bracketand for exerting downward pressure upon the securing and pressureapplying member and upward pressure upon the bracket.

PETER L. HOFFMAN.

